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Show i ' 'l JOHN MORGAN was born in Greens urg, Indiana on the 8th day of August, 1842. His parents were Gerrard Morgan, Jr. and Anna Eliza Hamilton Morgan. His grandmother, Sarah Sanderson Morgan, a widow, emigrated in 1823, with her family from Nicholas County, Kentucky, to I ndiana, and were among the early Pioneers of the City of Greensburg. The family of Gerrard ~organ, Jr. and Anne Eliza Hamilton Morgan were as follows: . i l l iam Woodson Morgan John ~-,1! ,.,;lorgan Leonidas Morgan James Morgan Luella Morgan Gerrard Morgan His Great grandparents, John Morgan end Mary Barnes Morgan, were born i n Goochland, Virginia, in the earl)" part of the 17th century and lived there during the Revol'Jt ionary period and participated in t hat great conflict. The Morgan line continues baek in Virginia to 1630 when John Morgen, the common ancestor of the Virginian Mo.rgens, arrived in America with his two brothers, -rt J .J and Je from Wales. His father was a farmer and consequently the son spent his early life in that occupation. His meager scholastic education was obtained from the log schoolhouse in that vicinity. fie was industrious and studiousl7 inclined. In about 18551 bis parents moved with tl·<'4 r family to Mattoon, Coles County, Illinois, where John Morgen grew ·to young manhood. At the time Abraham Lincoln was practicing law in Springvil le, Sangamon County, Illinois, but a shor t distance from the Lincoln heme was the home of Nicholas Groesbeck and his .wife, Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck and their family, including a little daughter, Helen iVlelvina G-roesbeck, a child about three years. of age. Thirteen years later, Helen M. Groesbeck and John Morgan were to meet in Salt Lake City, Utah, and become husband and wife. At Mattoon, Illinois, on the 6th day of Ceptember, 1862, John Morgan enlisted in t he newly organized 123rd Regiment of Ir.fantry of Illinois and in that military contingent saw s ctive service throughout t he remaindf:'r of the Clvil War; principally in the operations of the western command. He participated in many of t he skirmishes necessary to halt the guerilla activities of the -famous Confederate Cavalryman, "! organ-the Raider0 ,. General Morgan was .a distant relative of John Morgen and was recognized as one of the great and successful generals of the Gonfedereey. ln the iJettle of Mt. pelma in Alabama, ht~ reeei'ved his only serious inlury during his entire military service. The Union Forces were making a charge up t he Mount when t he Color-bearer of the 123rd Regiment was shot and killed. A soldier nearby grabbed ·t,he flag and carried it on up the hill; but he, too, was mortally wounded. John Morgan, being near by, grasped the battle flag from the dyine soldier's hand and continued up the hi ll 'With the attack; when, near the |
